Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs -December 6th, Wednesday @ 7:30PM

[goodboy]

Are there any new Spurs injuries yet, OP?

Yes, yes they are gom!

[goodboy]

Spurs are too good

[goodboy]

Slick and all too, wish we can move like them.

[goodboy]

hope manu is ok

[G R E Y]

Dear basketball gods,

Please, no more Spurs players grabbing their knees - or any other body part - in pain.

Thank you.

[G R E Y]

Thank God Manu is ok!

So. Many. Damn. Threes.

It's wine o'clock.

[goodboy]

Good win by the Spurs

good moment with Spo/Pop after game

GG

[JaysRule15]

Big win for us. Balanced attack. All 5 starters scored in double digits. Go Spurs!

[G R E Y]

A complete team effort was needed, and a complete team effort was given to counter the Heat's small-ball by necessity and 3-point onslaught. Slow start for the Spurs, and credit to the Heat for coming out active, passing quickly and executing 6-10 3s in the first Q. They made a ridiculous 7-10 3s in the third Q as well. By this time Pop was throwing his hands up at the lack of close-outs and just flat out shooting, and then the game within the game was taken up a GOAT level (and I don't just mean the ever entertaining look of baffled incredulity on Pop's face as refs were trying to explain bad calls).

Despite the Heat's torrid start and commitment to their game plan, when you have a such a single-minded focus on one end (34 of their 72 FGAs were from the 3), and GOAT coach on the other, once again, enter adjustments by Pop and execution by the players for the win. Change of pace, shot selection/plays run, tighter D to contest passes had a cumulative effect. On some plays Pop got on Patty/Parker to bring up the ball much faster when Heat weren't setting up quickly on D. On others, Spurs not only countered Heat 3s (they outscored us, but we nearly matched their percentage with 52% of our own), but had a deadly inside game that they had no answer for, getting a 54-28 point advantage in the paint. By the fourth, Heat were 2-7 from the 3 (in part their fatigue, but also our D). Our team game on both ends resulted in a 60-47 point advantage in the second half. We also edged Heat in rebounding 34-29, and fast break points 13-4. Eleven turnovers. Thirty assists for the second game in a row. Eight players in double figures.

Tony had his usual 20 minutes, but one adjustment was his playing in the 4th Q, getting 3-3 FGs inside the paint. Heat couldn't find a way to stop his crafty driving and finding open team mates. He finished the night with 10 points (5-7), nine assists and three rebounds. The Spurs system is such a part of him that he can settle the team and players respond very quickly. We build a 14 point lead in the fourth, but Heat brought it back to six. Timeout. Quick Patty J right out of it. The next 2-3 plays were Patty to LMA down low for successive points to bring the lead back up to double digits. Mills had 13 points (5-11, 3-6 from 3), six assists and three rebounds, LMA 18 (7-16) 4 rebounds, 4-4FTs.

The vets were solid contributors with Gasol's 12 (6-10), 5 & 3 - can't teach height, but you can teach execution, and both were important tonight, Green's 12 (5-7, 2-4 from 3), 3 & 2 with 2 steals and 3 blocks, and team high +31, made his presence felt in just about every facet of the game throughout his 30 minutes, and Manu pitching in with 10/3/3 and Manu magic.

Rudy in the starting line-up keeps bringing out more to his game. Yes, the rim blocked his dunk attempts tonight, but his 16 points (6-13), 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals shows he's not just a scorer, and doesn't want to be. Sean quipped, "No one knew he could pass because he was in Sacramento." Rudy is learning the Spurs system and flourishing as he does:

''It comes from everybody being willing to make a pass for us to be successful,'' said veteran Rudy Gay, who signed with the Spurs in the offseason. ''We have to find the open man and pass up a good shot for a great shot. We've been doing that well these past few games. I think that's one of the great things about this system, everybody is playing for each other and it ends up in the win column. That's part of the reason I came here.''

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20171206_MIA@SA/

The young guys got some minutes as well. Tonight it was mainly Bertans, who is being rewarded with extra court time recently by adding better D to his shooting, and Forbes, whose strong play was good to see again. Thought we'd have to distribute posters for his missing game, but he found it tonight and finished with 17 (6-8), 3 & 2, with 5-5 3s. I love that once again, so many different guys stepped in and stepped up. The headlines now are that we have depth, and we do, but what that really means is players' strengths getting maximized while they're being rewarded for playing the right way and executing the system. Nobody was saying that guys like Forbes, Bertans, Paul, etc., were going to as important to the team's success, yet here they are, rough gems getting shaped by the best system in the NBA, and showing what they can contribute.

Heat gambled on their strategy, but Spurs showed too many ways to score and defend, and used all of them win their sixth in seven games. One game at a time, though, as the next one brings the best team in the league. A big test. Looking forward to seeing how we respond.

Noteworthy individual and team achievements:

Forbes made a career-high five 3-pointers. He became the fourth undrafted player to make at least five 3-pointers in a game for the Spurs, joining Bruce Bowen, Gary Neal and Jaren Jackson.

The Spurs have made a 3-pointer in 1,000 straight games dating to April 9, 2005, the fourth-longest streak in league history.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20171206_MIA@SA/

I love this team. GO SPURS!

[Nolan]

Little late on this one but that was an entertaining one. The Heat always play us tough no matter what and Wednesday night was no exception. Miami were raining down the three's (they were 18/34 and we were 13/25), pushing the pace and they did a great job of compensating for their lack of size.

Things I liked:

Our balanced attack - No one really took this one over but we had 8 guys in double figures which included all five starters.

Tony - 10 and 9 in 20 minutes and he seen his first 4th quarter minutes of the season. He was really really solid, didn't force things and really made a difference.

Forbes - He was fire in this one. Every shot he put up looked good out of his hand. Love the confidence.

Danny - The blocks alone get him an A+ grade but he was solid offensively as well. Didn't force things and gave us some crucial scores when we needed them.

Things I didn't like:

Our work in the paint - We really failed to properly abuse the Heat in the low block. We really didn't do too much to try and beat the double teams they threw at LMA and I think that was a major misstep by us.

Defense - Way too many open 3's and somewhat easy transition buckets for the Heat. When things broke down we did not recover properly.

[G R E Y]

Little late on this one but that was an entertaining one. The Heat always play us tough no matter what and Wednesday night was no exception. Miami were raining down the three's (they were 18/34 and we were 13/25), pushing the pace and they did a great job of compensating for their lack of size.

Things I liked:

Our balanced attack - No one really took this one over but we had 8 guys in double figures which included all five starters.

Tony - 10 and 9 in 20 minutes and he seen his first 4th quarter minutes of the season. He was really really solid, didn't force things and really made a difference.

Forbes - He was fire in this one. Every shot he put up looked good out of his hand. Love the confidence.

Danny - The blocks alone get him an A+ grade but he was solid offensively as well. Didn't force things and gave us some crucial scores when we needed them.

Things I didn't like:

Our work in the paint - We really failed to properly abuse the Heat in the low block. We really didn't do too much to try and beat the double teams they threw at LMA and I think that was a major misstep by us.

Defense - Way too many open 3's and somewhat easy transition buckets for the Heat. When things broke down we did not recover properly.

That was puzzling. Made me think it was an actual strategy so that 1-in case Heat made some sort of adjustment by getting used to the play? 2-LMA wasn't overused, not just in terms of wear, but also in terms of the team not relying so much on him so as to take a step back in shouldering the O load 3-gave a chance for other guys to step up so they could run a variety of plays, gain experience. When Heat brought the 14 point lead in the 4th down to 6, several successive Mills to LMA plays brought the lead back up. Always there in the back pocket. Perhaps...

[Nolan]

That was puzzling. Made me think it was an actual strategy so that 1-in case Heat made some sort of adjustment by getting used to the play? 2-LMA wasn't overused, not just in terms of wear, but also in terms of the team not relying so much on him so as to take a step back in shouldering the O load 3-gave a chance for other guys to step up so they could run a variety of plays, gain experience. When Heat brought the 14 point lead in the 4th down to 6, several successive Mills to LMA plays brought the lead back up. Always there in the back pocket. Perhaps...

That very well could of been Pop's thinking. It's not like the offense wasn't clicking and we were neglecting LMA, but it just stood out that we weren't going at that mismatch every time down the floor.